RHS softball team notches win against Florence
By Brannon King / For the FCT
The Russellville Golden Tigers got the 2018 varsity softball season off to a good start with a 7-3 win at Florence Feb. 27.
The two teams closely battled through the early innings and were tied at 2-2 after five innings of play before RHS took control of the game with a big five-run sixth frame.
With two outs in the inning, Alvia Clemmons reached base on a walk to score a run. Then, Karlie Moore followed with another RBI walk that scored Lauren Rogers to put the Lady Golden Tigers up 4-2. After a Florence pitching change, Megan Warhurst smacked a three-RBI double to clear the bases to put RHS up by a 7-2 score.
“It was a very good way to start the year,” Russellville head coach Kathryn Montgomery said. “I asked the girls that we play powerfully but that we play scrappily as well because we know there are going to be times that we can’t overpower people. There are going to be times that if we use every ability that we’ve been given, we can overcome tough situations.
“We hung around with them and stayed close to them at the beginning of the game, and the girls pushed through and really broke it open.”
Clemmons led Russellville at the plate with a two-for-three performance, including a double and a triple. She drove in two runs, walked once and scored a run.
“Megan Warhurst came in a tough situation,” Montgomery said. “I think it was two outs, bases loaded – and she’s a pitcher, so she knew she wanted to help herself. She knows that she’s competing for a spot in the lineup as well, so there was a lot of pressure there, and she came through.
“Alivia Clemmons puts in work every day all day. You’ll see her in the batting cages, and all you can say is hard work pays off, and you can see it,” Montgomery added.
Senior Emma Whitfield got the start in the pitching circle for Russellville. She pitched the first inning and gave up a hit and a run before Krista Sikes came in and worked the next three innings. Sikes allowed no hits or runs and struck out three batters.
Warhurst finished the game and pitched three innings. She allowed two runs and two hits, walked three batters and struck out four Falcons.
Batters for RHS adding hits to the total included Sydney Burcham, Sikes, Autumn Logan and Johnna Grace Oliver.
Lauren Rogers was hit by a pitch and stole two bases during the game. She also was walked twice and scored two runs.
Burcham added a steal, two runs scored and two walks, and Makala O’Neal reached base on a walk for RHS. Oliver and Karlie Moore both scored runs for the Golden Tigers.
